accountability journalism

We won. Epically. Now we wait.

Attorney Matt Topic, myself, and activist William Calloway answer questions from reporters at the Daley Center courthouse Nov. 19 after winning our lawsuit against the city. (Obscured is the other attorney on the case, Craig Futterman.) We sought the release of a video that allegedly shows police shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times on a Chicago street last year. Our suit accused the Chicago Police Department of using certain exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act without merit in withholding the video. Cook County Judge Franklin Valderrama ordered the city to release the footage by Nov. 25.

As this story is ongoing, please see my Twitter feed, @muckrakery, for the latest updates.

Speaking of Twitter, I’ll re-post here a few key items I’ve posted there since the ruling.

9-22:

This weekend, Rahm Emanuel reached out to leaders in Chicago’s black community to try to get black activists to meet with him.

Some black activists undoubtedly will meet with Rahm; others say (via Facebook) that they will not. I don’t blame them.

One black activist says she’s insulted at the invitation, b/c she and others couldn’t previously get a meeting to discuss police brutality.

“The conversation” that the #LaquanMcDonald video adds to? It’s the one underpinned by the work @invinst has done and continues.

(Responding to some rumors that some news organizations already have the video, either leaked or on embargo) Let’s put it this way: the city has to tell me when they release the video, because I’m the #$&@ plaintiff. I’ll let you know when I know.

Get the Settlement Agreement. What is surprising to me is that Laquan McDonald’s mother and sister are completely unheard from. The Settlement Agreement provides for a structured settlement, which means that the payments are paid over time. It would be very interesting to see that document and understand how it may be structured to enforce the silence of Laquan McDonald’s family. I have no idea if it is available under the FOIA, but the citizens of Chicago, who are paying $5M, should be entitled to see the document. What could be so secret in it? Did the City Council see it?

I would like you thank you for joining the movement and being an active fighter for civil rights. This is what all people should do but most don’t. Continue to fight and know that your work is appreciated but expected. Peace and love.